Editorial | Sunvoice

7s Heat Is On This Weekend In London

The real battle of the 2017/18 HSBC World Sevens Series is on this weekend in London. The Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team currently lead the Series standing with 145 points
28 May 2018 13:27
7s Heat Is On This Weekend In London
The Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team celebrate the Cup win over Australia on day two of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore on April 29, 2018. Photo: World Rugby

The real battle of the 2017/18 HSBC World Sevens Series is on this weekend in London.

The Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team currently lead the Series standing with 145 points followed by defending champions South Africa at 141 while New Zealand are in third place with 120.

The Blitzboks are coming in prepared to regain the lead after they lost it in the last tournament in Singapore.

Eroni Sau reaches out for a try against South Africa on day two of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore on April 29, 2018.  Photo: World Rugby

Eroni Sau reaches out for a try against South Africa on day two of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore on April 29, 2018. Photo: World Rugby

They were beaten by the Fijians 12-10 in the Cup semifinals. This was after they had taken a 10-0 lead, but somehow they lost the plot and allowed Amenoni Nasilasila and Eroni Sau to run in tries.

The Seremaia Tuwai-captained side went on to win the Singapore tournament while South Africa came fourth.

Coach Neil Powell has secured the services of their try scoring machine Seabelo Senatla, who had been tied up with Super Rugby duties.

Similarly, New Zealand under new coach Clark Laidlaw, are now stamping their mark in the Series apart from their gold medal win at the Commonwealth Games which has really boosted their campaign.

With veteran Kurt Baker back in the captaincy role, the Kiwis will be no pushovers.

Surprise Singapore 7s finalists Australia and host England are also a threat to the top guns and cannot be counted out.

For our Fijian 7s team, they are in for a tough tournament starting right from their pool games, which includes arch-rivals New Zealand, Scotland and the unpredictable Argentineans.

Coach Gareth Baber and the players are very much aware of this and that’s way they have taken the lead to London, to help adapt to the conditions there.

They need to be at their very best if they are to win the London Sevens and boost their chances of taking out the 2017/18 World Sevens Series.

Nothing is impossible – as already we’ve won the Hamilton, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Singapore tournaments.

Let’s not hold back, but show our support for Baber and the players in this most important assignment.

Always remember the team in our daily prayers or even send messages of support as we countdown to the start of the London 7s.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj

 

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